A pioneering Forth Bridges project is inspiring a new generation of engineers and scientists to Go Forth.
The three bridges from three centuries have been in focus during one of the most complex 3D digital surveys undertaken anywhere in the world.
The data is the base for major new game-based educational toolkit.
Launching it, Deputy First Minister John Swinney said: “The embedding of the Forth Bridges into teaching resources helps to demonstrate to pupils the wonders of modern digital technologies and to the extraordinary civil engineering from three different centuries we see sitting across the Forth.
“These fantastic new resources provide a powerful combination of jaw-dropping archival construction photographs with digital data taken from the 3D survey.”
Working with the assistance of a digital learning consultant, the Centre for Digital Documentation and Visualisation – a partnership between Historic Environment Scotland and The Glasgow School of Art – has used its enormous digital datasets to create several free teaching packages.
In the future, the data may also be used to support monitoring and maintenance programmes, as well as developing interpretation resources and virtual access at proposed visitor centres and online.
It may also be able to help with the likes of historic reconstructions.
Dr Miles Oglethorpe, head of industrial heritage at Historic Environment Scotland said: “It’s been amazing working on the three extraordinary Forth bridges and then bringing the results of our surveys to life for the benefit of schools across Scotland.”
Jenni Mackay, education support officer for digital learning at Dundee City Council developed the learning resources, which are mapped to the Curriculum for Excellence.
She said the project brought the past to life.
“The amazing scans captured by the team allowed highly accurate details to be included in all the resources.”
Dens Road Primary was involved in testing the games.
